Rio 2016 Olympics: Sometimes the runner stumbles, but a rival is there to help

In contrast to female Brazilian synchronised divers who had a feud which made them finish last, caused by one diver allegedly kicking out her roommate so she could have sex with a canoeist, two other female athletes in the ongoing Rio 2016 Olympics showed them the true heart of a champion. Although they collided while running in the preliminary for the women’s 5,000 metres, an American and English runner helped each other stand up and return to the race.

However, what was so heartening was that after English runner Nikki Hamblin collided with American runner Abbey D'Agostino, on Tuesday, during the second semifinal heat, Hamblin – who migrated to New Zealand seven years ago – stopped to help D’Agostino, from Topsfield, Massachusetts, reports Washington Post. The two, together with other runners, were about two-thirds of the 12 ½ laps around the track when the accident happened.

Hamblin was not sure what happened or who was at fault. She crashed on the blue track and lay still for a few seconds on her side. She felt D’Agostino’s hand on her shoulder and the American runner saying, “Get up, get up! We have to finish this.”

D’Agostino was on Hamblin’s heels and tumbled over her competitor, resulting in her right knee being badly twisted. But she stood up immediately and encouraged Hamblin to also stand up.

The two continued the race, but D’Agostino – who has seven NCAA titles for long distance and cross country runs – collapsed again because of her injury. In her second fall, it was Hamblin who returned the favour and was her helping hand.

Hamblin finished ahead with a time of 16:43.61, while D’Agostino finished at 17:10.02. It was Ethiopian runner Almaz Ayana who won the race.

The two ended the race at the finish line with a quick embrace. The Olympic medical team took D’Agostino away in a wheelchair, while Hamblin stood by her side, reports Time.

“Everyone wants to win and everyone wants a medal. But as disappointing as this experience is for myself and for Abbey, there’s so much more to this than a medal,” says Hamblin who earned not a medal but the respect of Olympic games fans.

VIDEO: Inspirational Moment: Nikki Hamblin Helps Abbey D’Agostino in Rio Olympic 2016

Source: GlobalVision